The Rockford Files - Show News, Reviews, Recaps and Photos - TV.com The Rockford Files EDIT James Garner stars as Jim Rockford, a private investigator who lives and works from his trailer in Malibu, Los Angeles. Jim is an ex-con who had been imprisoned for five years in San Quentin for armed robbery – a crime which he did not commit and was later pardoned. Jim has a quarter page advertisement in the yellow pages, drives a tan Pontiac Firebird and has an answering machine, which plays at the beginning of every episode; "This is Jim Rockford, at the tone leave your name and message and I'll get back to you". A person then leaves a message – which usually has no relevance to the episode but is often humorous. The series also stars Noah Beery Jr as Jim's father Joseph "Rocky" Rockford, a retired truck driver. Rocky offers words of wisdom, advice or even assistance in some episodes. Rocky frequently pressures his son to leave the PI business and take up safer, honest work, such as trucking. Jim also has a close friendship with Dennis Becker, played by Joe Santos. Dennis is a Los Angeles Police Sergeant, later promoted to Lieutenant.

Jim uses Dennis get information, police computer checks and often makes him the hero of the case Jim was investigating. Any time Jim is arrested in the first four seasons, he simply calls for his attorney Elizabeth "Beth" Davenport, played by Gretchen Corbett. Jim and Beth had a previous relationship, but remained friends until Beth went off to run her own private practice and later write legal fiction. In her absence Jim turns to John 'Coop' Cooper, played by Bo Hopkins in the fifth season. Coop is a disbarred attorney who specialises in legal research, and gets embroiled in three of Jim's cases. While Jim was in prison, he met Evelyn 'Angel' Martin, wonderfully portrayed by Stuart Margolin. So named because he was always praying the hard cases not to hit him; Angel is sneaky and is always up to something illegal - often involving Jim in his swindles. As part of his parole, he works for his brother-in-law who owns a LA Newspaper. Roy Huggins and Stephen J Cannell created The Rockford Files. The shows production team included Meta Rosenberg, Juanita Bartlett, Chas Floyd Johnson and David Chase, all of whom have had further successful series in later years.

First Telecast: September 13, 1974 Last Telecast: July 25, 1980 Episodes: 1 Pilot Movie + 123 Color Episodes & 8 Made-for-TV Movies NBC Broadcast History September 1974 - May 1977; Friday 21:00 June 1977; Friday 20:30 July 1977 - January 1979; Friday 21:00 February - March 1979; Saturday 22:00 April - December 1979; Fridays 21:00 March - April 1980; Thursdays 22:00 June - July 1980; Fridays 21:00 Nielsen Ratings: (Top 25 or Better) #12 in the 1974-1975 Seasonmoreless The Rockford Files Fan Reviews & Ratings - TV.com The rough and tumble exploits of human punchbag and P.I., Jim Rockford.

10 By jd1975 , Apr 11, 2008 Despite the sometimes O.T.T action (Was Jim's head made from cast iron?) there's no doubting the quality and class of "The Rockford Files" From the sun kissed Mike Post theme tune, the car chases, the generally serious storylines, wry humour, and the ultra charismatic characters, the show is a winner. Sure there are the occasional turkey episodes, but even a classic is allowed the odd faux pas here and there. James Garner was refered to by Barry Norman as television's first true superstar, and "The Rockford Files" cemeneted his reputation as the everyman hero in a rough and tumble world where the good guys didn't always come out tops. 10/10. DO YOU AGREE? this show was really good. 9.4 By kevinb4444 , Jul 18, 2007 this is one of those shows you might not admit you used to watch, but I admit it. His car was pretty cool, he was always solving cases and he usually added a little humor to the situation. How can you not like this show, it had everything.

It had action, adventure, drama and comedy. The cases he were on were actually interesting, I wish TV shows that are on today were even half as good as this show. If you haven't watched this show I'm sure you can rent it on video or something, it's a pretty decent show and it will always keep you entertained. DO YOU AGREE? 7.5 By da_dunker , Apr 30, 2007 This was probably the greatest part James Garner ever played. He was essentially playing himself, an easy going guy caught in oddball situations mainly brought on by loony clients or by his former ex-con friends. The character of Jim Rockford was not unlike his other defining role of Bret Maverick. Also, the supporting cast was great as well. Noah Beery Jr. was perfect as Rocky, Jim's father, who was always trying to get his "Sonny" to give up the detective business and join him in the trucking business. Joe Santos was great as Dennis, Jim's main contact on the LAPD who reluctantly helped Jim by giving him information on various cases.

Gretchen Corbett was great in her role as his girlfriend/lawyer Beth Davenport who would always be there to get him out of a jam. But, perhaps the most memorable character was Angel, played by Stuart Margolin. Angel was, and still is, the biggest weasel in television history. He would often be responsible for getting Jim into the odd predicaments he would get into. Also of note, this was the first hit from the mind of Stephen J. Cannell after years of writing for Adam-12. Cannell is probably one of the greatest writers in television history and this is where it all began. DO YOU AGREE? "I don't do anything dangerous..." 9.6 By jamoon2006 , Feb 26, 2007 I have found this series, first from A&E reruns and now with Seasons 1 and 2 on DVD, and it has become one of my new favorites. I love to watch an episode or two every night before bed. As a fan of mysteries and private detective stories, "Rockford" is great for me, because it reminds me so much of the spirit of Raymond Chandler and Ross MacDonald.

Jim Rockford is the epitome of a private eye; on the case, but not without his own interests and self-preservation. He's a hero who doesn't carry a gun, would prefer not to fight, and gets grief from his dad. He's an everyman caught up in things that may seem over his head, but he wins out in the end with his brains and his charm. And like an everyman, he's surrounded by friends and colleagues who are some of the most "real" people on TV. The exasperated Dennis Becker, who wants only to get a window office and his pension; Beth Davenport (who wouldn't want a friend with benefits like Beth, who could also bail you out of legal trouble?); and of course, ex-con and scam artist extraordinare Angel Martin. "Rockford" wins because of the strength of James Garner and the cast, combined with some of the best mystery writing for TV other than the 1970s "Columbo" episodes. It's telling that the 1990s reunion movies are just as strong as the series. "Rockford" rules whenever you see it.

How many other 1970s cop shows can you say hold up just as well today? DO YOU AGREE? I had to watch it...

10 By jerr7 , Jan 19, 2007 This is another show that goes a ways back and wish there also could be some more shows also, could you imangine of having a friend like angel that never even came close to being one, my gosh did he ever get poor rockford into so much trouble, ever where they turn it was jimmy help me, again and again, never was no end to the trouble he had caused but guess he really showed what a true friend could be like, besides really thumping him no telling how many times he would of like to done that, and his dad, they made a perfect pair as dad and son, loved his dad's truck, nice, and I know rockford had that old fire bird, which is a classic to its days now, yeah I would like more of these to come back, but know it couldnt happen, me and a friend use to watch it every sunday night and talk about it at school the next day, and that would be every week, great show, really hate that good things have to come to an end. DO YOU AGREE? Hello this is Jim Rockford, leave your phone number I'll get back with you.

10 By Inapendents , Jan 04, 2007 The only show in history that starts off with a different phone message ever week. Then that unforgettable theme music. Hey Jim Bo, Rockfish, Jimmy Boy, and many more from the best sidekick of all time Angel. This is probalbly the best tv show of all time hands down. And it could have been better with some tweeks. Alot of great shows for their time and genre but this just blows all of them away. Firefly comes close now for me but forever the Rock was the greatest. Magnum was second for the genre of action drama but the Rockfish is just awesome. I mean he is so the regular American guy who you admire. Gets behind bills, knocked down, and burnt by Angel over and over but loyal to the core he takes him back. I just laugh thinking how many times Jim BO got the shaft because of Angel. If you never seen these episodes man you have missed American tv gold. A classic action drama. I mean plans that go hay wire but Jim always manages to pull it together and fix what's wrong. Decker and Rocky their to bail him out. And his car who could forget that.

A Privat Eye for the ages. Just a really fine show. DO YOU AGREE? 8.2 By neon2farmer , Nov 06, 2006 this is my favourite show of the 1970's . but it is also bter than alot of shows in the 80's. i like how almost episode at the end has a car chase. in which Jim Rockford usually has to catch the bad guy.this show has alot of action for a 70's show and i really like it. it hardly ever comes on anymore but when it does i usually watch it. James Garner did a good job acting it's too bad that the doctors told him to take time off because of his bad back,knees and an ulcur. o well,it will always be a classic in my eyes.later. DO YOU AGREE? The best private eye show of them all. 10 By Mad_Buck , Sep 04, 2006 James Garner had earlier struck television immortality with his performance in Maverick. Sadly, he left that series after three seasons to do film work.

He made several very good movies but by the early 70's his film career was beginning to dry up. Thus, Mr. Garner decided to return to series television. The Rockford Files was the result and we can all be glad for the finished product. This show wasn't your typical private eye drama and Jim Rockford wasn't your typical private eye. He preferred to use his wits instead of his fists and didn't always succeed on his cases or get paid by his clients. Plus, unlike many other like shows, Jim had a personal life and we got huge glimpses of it. The viewer got to know Jim Rockford as a person instead of just as a private investigator. What made the show click was Garner and his marvelous supporting cast. You had Noah Beery as Jim's somewhat befuddled father, Joe Santos as his harried police sergeant buddy, Gretchen Corbett as his attorney/girlfriend, and James Luisi as his police lieutenant/antagonist. Plus the greatest supporting character of them all---Stuart Margolin as the legendary Evelyn "Angel" Martin, Jim's ex-con prison buddy who always had an angle and seemingly always tried to con Jim out of something.

Margolin was the epitome of brilliance in this role. The scripts themselves, though usually of a left-wing bent, were mostly literate and intelligent. And there was plenty of humor thrown in as well. It was almost as if Bret Maverick had gotten re-incarnated and come back to life as a 20th century private eye. But that's another review for another time. DO YOU AGREE? My all time favorite! Jim Rockford is an awesome PI that has a sense of humor and a brain unlike most characters that are on TV today. 10 By Wayne51 , Jun 01, 2006 James Garner plays one of the best PI characters ever written in the Rockford Files. By far, one of the best shows to ever air on television. If you haven\\\'t seen it, watch it and you\\\'ll be hooked. Fast cars, shootouts, kidnappings, murder and good looking women can be found in every episode. I would miss work to stay home and watch the reruns if my wife would let me. Yeah, I know I can record it, but it\\\'s just not the same. DO YOU AGREE? James Garner as a ex-con private detective.

A really good show with great acting, writing and even a great theme song. 9.4 By vicmackey31 , Apr 22, 2006 James Garner as a ex-con private detective. A really good show with great acting, writing and even a great theme song. This was more than a pretty good television series. As is normal with good television shows, this one did not last long enough. This is a show that I would suggest watching if you get the chance. Check the bargain bins at Wal-Mart, the online movies sites (Amazon.com and such) and all of the cable channels that run old shows. Nick at Nite and TV Land are great for theses kind of shows. They will even do a week long spot for shows that only had 6 or so episodes. Then you have your super stations. They run a bunch of old shows too. All in all a pretty good show that did not get a good enough chance. Sometimes it is a simple as the show it is up against. Look at Law & Order. It is one of the longest running shows on TV. They moved it to go up against Lost.

After about 2 weeks of getting pounded in the ratings it was moved back to it's original time slot. Shows like this should be given more of an opportunity. DO YOU AGREE? From the moment ex-con turned private detective Jim Rockford's phone rings in the opening sequence, you can expect a mixture of action and mystery with a few laughs thrown in. 8.2 By cdrak0715 , Jul 15, 2005 From the moment ex-con turned private detective Jim Rockford's phone rings in the opening sequence, you can expect a mixture of action and mystery with a few laughs thrown in. Jim Rockford broke the stereotype of the private detective. An ex-con, he shied away from guns and violence and prefered fishing to chasing down bad guys. Instead of a sexy secretary, Jim had his dad Rocky (wonderfully played by Noah Beery Jr.), his ex-cellmate Angel (Stuart Margolin), his lawyer Beth (Gretchen Corbett) and Det. Dennis Becker (Joe Santos) pulling him in assorted directions. Rocky never approved of his son's choice of career. Angel usually tried to drag Jim into some scheme or other while claiming to be helping Jim investigate a case.

Beth tried to be the voice of reason, but rarely won out. Becker usually did his best to stay out of trouble for helping or simply knowing Jim Rockford. Like Beth, he rarely succeeded. Instead of an office, Jim worked out of his broken down mobile home which was close enough to the beach for Jim to go fishing instead of working. Instead of being the invincible hero, Jim regularly got beaten up by assorted villains and bad guys. Despite all of that, Jim Rockford managed to solve the case, get the people responsible and set things right by the end of the episode. I always enjoyed the opening sequence of this show. Although the greeting on Jim Rockford's answering machine never changed, the message left for him was always different and rarely had anything to do with the episode that followed. DO YOU AGREE? Jim Rockford Jim Rockford Created By Roy Huggins And Stephen J. Cannell "This is Jim Rockford. At the tone, leave your name and number. I'll get back to you..." So began each weekly episode of The Rockford Files, certainly the best private eye series to ever grace the television screen, and arguably one of the greatest private eyes of all time.

In fact, by the time CBS was promoting one of the made-for-television movies, ol' Jimbo was being called "America's favorite private eye." Not bad for a guy who would probably still rather go fishing. Mind you, having the lead played by handsome, affable James Garner , one of America's most beloved film and television actors -- and actually building the character around him -- certainly didn't hurt in initially attracting viewers. Just as co-creator Roy Huggins fooled around with the conventions of the western genre in his classic TV series Maverick (which also starred Garner), so did he wreak havoc on the P.I. genre with The Rockford Files Where other gumshoes were courageous loners fighting for justice and honour, obsessed with discovering the truth, JIM ROCKFORD was a semi-cowardly con artist with a gift for gab who would rather go fishing. And he was always being nagged by his father to get a real job. This was no slick TV private eye. He kept his gun in a cookie jar ("I don't shoot it, I just point it"), and a small press in the backseat of his car to print instant business cards to go with his numerous aliases and scams.

He lived in a house trailer on the beach, first at 2354 Pacific Coast Highway in LA, and later at 29 Cove Road in Malibu (and thus set the precedent for "cute' living arrangements for TV eyes -- blame Rockford for Magnum's mansion and Spenser's firehouse). He was a Korean War vet who'd served five years of a twenty year sentence at San Quentin, before the discovery of new evidence earned him a full pardon. Upon his release, he set up shop as a P.I., originally only taking cases the police had given up on. But what really set Rockford apart was his large circle of friends and associates, each as finely etched and endearing as Rockford was. They weren't a bunch of only-on-television self-consciously quirky "types" -- they were real people whose eccentricities were an offshoot of their characters, not a add-on dreamed up by a committee. Of course, there was his dad, Rocky (played by Noah Berry, Jr.) , a crusty, cranky semi-retired trucker, always worrying.

The warm relationship between father and son was one of the foundations of the show, and has become a running theme through many of Cannell's later series. Jim's lawyer, and on again/off again love interest Beth Davenport appeared for the first four seasons, offering Jim advice and, often, cases he would have run screaming from had she not been there to cajole him. Constantly beleagured LAPD Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Dennis Becker was the mandatory police contact, but his friendship with Jim was more than a token, never-seen allusion. There was no doubt they were friends, arguing, fighting, but ultimately true pals. Actor Joe Santos has since appeared in about a million movies and TV shows, almost always as a cop, it seems. And then there's Angel, Jim's former cellmate, always on the con, constantly scheming, looking for the perpetual big score which inevitably blows up in his face, played to weasel-like perfection by Stuart Margolin. Cowardly (he makes Jim look like Hercules), venal, selfish, without any redeeming qualities to speak of except, perhaps, his overpowering drive to survive, a suckerfish trying to swim with the sharks, Jim nonetheless remains loyal to him throughout the series.

Margolin, a talented actor/director, lurked around Hollywood for a few years after the show wrapped, but after eventually pulled up stakes and moved to British Columbia, where he went on to star in another memorable -- if far less successful -- private eye series, the CBC's Mom P.I. . But Angel wasn't the only friend Rockford remained loyal to throughout the series: Isaac Hayes, for example, appeared three times as tough-talking and hot-tempered Gandolph Fitch, the one-time "Hammer of C Block," who never could get Rockford's name right; John, former outlaw biker turned criminal lawyer, who replaced Beth as Jim's lawyer and Meghan, a blind psychologist, fiercely independant and, it seemed for a while, Jim's one true love. Another notable recurring guest was streetwise hooker Rita Capkovic, determine to go straight, who came to Rockford for help three times. Actress Rita Moreno won an Emmy for the character's first appearance, "The Paper Palace" (Jan. 20, 1978). As well, a goodly number of fellow private eyes, each one of them stranger than the last, kept crossing Rockford's path.

As Maverick had done for the classic western, The Rockford Files regularly turned and twisted the conventions of the P.I. story back upon themselves to point up some of the absurdities behind the genre's assumptions. These guest investigators were ideal for just that purpose. The most prominent of this bunch was Richie Brockelman , played by Dennis Dugan. Brockelman was an eager novice investigator and the character actually took over the Rockford time slot for his own five-episode series in the spring of 1978. That show wasn't strictly a spin-off, however, since Richie was first introduced in a 1976 two-hour movie. His first appearance on The Rockford Files a few years later, "The House on Willis Avenue" (February 24, 1978), was primarily intended to build an audience for the Richie Brockelman, Private Eye series. Obviously, that didn't work out, but Brockelman returned for a second appearance, "Never Send a Boy King To Do a Man's Job" (March 3, 1979). But the most memorable P.I.

to visit the show was undoubtedly Lance White, the rich, elegant, and flawless male model private eye; the walking cliche who drove Rockford crazy. White debuted in "White on White and Nearly Perfect" (Oct. 20, 1978) and made a comeback in "Nice Guys Finish Dead" (Nov. 16, 1979). This latter took place at a private eyes' awards dinner, and is a real hoot. The relatively unknown actor who did such a fine comic turn as White proved to have a future in the TV P.I. business-- his name was Tom Selleck. He starred in Magnum P.I. , a show that owed more than a little to The Rockford Files, although it's always seemed to me that Thomas Magnum was essentially Lance White with the wink whited out. The Rockford Files wasn't perfect, mind you. The plots often centered around intricate conspiracies and were often just too damned convoluted and confusing to be satisfactorily resolved within an hour-long TV program, resulting in some occasionally jaw-dropping, head-spinning wrap-ups. And other shows were padded out by a few too many car chases.

Still, it should be said that even the occasional wham-bam endings and car chases were typically clever and well-done, a definite cut above the rest. And hey, it's better to reach high and fail than to succeed at being mediocre, and if James Garner liked cars and wanted car chases, well, that seemed like a small price to pay in exchange for arguably the best private eye series to ever air. And, despite the great cast, a lot of the show's success boiled down to the writing. Huggins and Cannell set the pace, but they assembled a fine pool of writers, with input from some serious outliers. THE RETURN OF ROCKFORD In 1995, CBS brought back Rockford in a string of eight made-for-television movies that managed to capture much of the charm, if not the energy, of the original series. Alas, Noah Beery Jr., who played Jim's caring, overly-protective truck-driver dad, Rocky, was missing, having passed away before production began. In fact, the first, 1994's I Still Love L.A., was dedicated to his memory, a decidedly classy touch. Then again, Rockford always had his priorities straight.

The simple pleasures of friendship and family were what he has always been about. Oh and a little fishing. By the time Rockford these films were made, Garner was getting a tad long in the tooth. But, to their credit, the writers and directors never let us forget it his age or his limitations. In each of the films, the passage of time became a major plot hook. The past always came calling, usually in the guise of old pals in trouble, and Rockford, with an exasperated sigh, a grimace and a grunt, would once more try to help them out. This was honest television, done with sensitivity and style; not some cranked-out soulless movie-of-the-week rehash of some old show, bearing view traces of the original. But with so many great actors reprising their original roles and so many loose ends from the original series being tied up, there was a warm sense of homecoming and continuity about the whole affair. Over the course of the films, we caught up with most of the old crew: Dennis, Rita, Beth, and of course, Angel. No surprise, I guess: loyalty means something to Rockford. And, by all accounts, Garner himself.

The Rockford movies may also have been the first time we've seen an elderly version of a private eye we already knew and loved. Fortunately, our memories of the original show were treated with dignity and respect, a true rarity when it comes to TV "revivals." A true class act. In 1996, perhaps inspired the the TV movies, Forge published The Green Bottle, an original Rockford novel, set in the nineties, by Stuart Kaminsky, author of the Toby Peters series. Kaminsky pulled it off admirably, allowing us to get into Jim's head, through first person narration. Turns out Rockford is as appealing a character on the inside, cranky but easy-going, as he is on the outside. A follow-up novel, Devil On My Doorstep, was released in 1998. There were eight movies in all, but they never quite caught the public's attention the way the original series, by then in heavy rotation through syndication, was. The last one aired in 1999. Since then, there have been several attempts to revive the series, as either a television series or as a feature film.

A proposed pilot starring Dermot Mulroney was rejected by NBC in 2010, and plans for a film version starring Vince Vaughan a few years later seem to have been scrapped. Reactions to the announcement of both projects were far from enthusiastic. As would be expected. The Rockford Files was a perfect storm of acting, directing and writing; an astounding and rare blend of warmth, humour, wit and intelligence that celebrated decency and loyalty. Trashing people's memories for a quick buck just doesn't seem like something Rockford would be involved in. * * * * * Roy Huggins also created private eye Stuart Bailey , whom he later adapted for television in 77 Sunset Strip . His protege, Stephen J. Cannell went on to create/produce Tenspeed and Brownshoe , Sonny Spoon , City of Angels , 21 Jump Street, Riptide , Hardcastle and McCormick , etc., etc., etc. FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY "The Rockford Files was the perfect example of how to do funny and do it right. A combination of the right actor and the right approach." "... the idea of a wholly new Rockford goes down hard and thick...

the personas of Jim Garner and Jim Rockford are too inextricably bound for any passing of the baton." -- Craig McDonald on any potential remake, in Remembering Rockford . THE EVIDENCE "Does your mother know what you do for a living?" -- Jim to thug, a line he lifted from Marlowe , the film he starred in based on Chandler's The Little Sister. "Jimmy, old buddy buddy! It's Angel! You know how they allow you one phone call? Well, this is it." -- Angel "You don't mouth off to anything that big. He looks like 190 pounds of gristle." "Look, you aren't gonna shoot anybody, we both know it, so why don't you put that thing away before you have an accident." -- Jim in "The Kirkoff Case" "Why you're on a real crusade, aren't you. You're a regular Sir Guinevere!" -- Vern St. Cloud in "Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones, but Waterbury Will Bury You" "There's nothing you can do about it. That's the way it is. I'm sorry to be the bearer of the bad news.

There's no easy answer, you know. No quickie nirvana. You don't like it, tough! Join the club!" -- Jim on growing old, in "Quickie Nirvana" Rocky: "I am through talking to you! Look at you, an inch or two to the right and you'd be missing that eye!"Jim: "Yeah, but look at it this way, an inch or two to the left and he'd have missed me completely." -- "Find Me If You Can" TELEVISION Written by Stephen J. Cannell, from a story by John Thomas James Directed by Richard T. Heffron Producer: Stephen J. Cannell Executive Producer: Jo Swerling Jr. Music: Mike Post and Pete Carpenter Starring James Garner as JIM ROCKFORD with Robert Donley as Joseph "Rocky" Rockford Stuart Margolin as Angel and Joe Santos as Sergeant Dennis Becker Also starring Lindsay Wagner, William Smith, Pat Renella, Bill Mumy, Mike Steele, Michael Lerner THE ROCKFORD FILES Director: James Whitmore Jr.

Also starring Joanna Cassidy, Geoffrey Nauffts, Daniel Benzali, Lawrence Pressman, Shannon Kenny, Joseph Campanella The first of several TV movies was dedicated to the memory of Noah Beery Junior, who passed away shortly before the show was aired. Good use of recent events in LA as we follow Jim through the "missing years" as he gets married, gets unmarried, loses his father, and finally decides to pack it all in, sell the trailer, and leave LA. But nasty things keep happening, like earthquakes, the L.A. riots of '92 and the devastating brush fires in '93 and murder. Well done, as much a tribute as an update, and both long overdue. "This picture is dedicated to the memory of NOAH BEERY, JR. We love you and miss you, Pidge." Supervising Producers: Stephen J. Cannell and David Chase Also starring Gretchen Corbett, Dyan Cannon, Stuart Margolin, Joe Santos, James Luisi, Tom Atkins It's homecoming week, as Jimbo rides again, and we catch up with the rest of the cast. Beth is now a famous writer, married, sporting a new do, and no longer practising law.

But she makes an exception when Jim is set up on a murder rap. Angel is still scamming, and cops, well, no one's ever figured out a way to get rid of them. Dennis, Chapman and Diehl all show up. A little longer in the tooth, maybe, but all these characters are treated with the dignity they deserve. And once again tribute is paid to Rocky's memory. And for once, it looks like Jim may have found a lady friend, in the form of Dyan Cannon, who seems to have ageless legs, playing an old friend of Rocky's. A class act. Too bad the plot fizzes out at the end, but when it's rolling, it's one of the best reunion TVMs I've ever seen. Written by Stephen J. Cannell Directed by Stuart Margolin Also starring Stuart Margolin, Gretchen Corbett, Joe Santos, James Luisi, Marcia Strassman, David Proval, Wendy Phillips, James Luisi, Molly Hagan, Ivan Serei Jim reluctantly helps a waitress investigate her son's death, and ends up tangling with mobsters, academics and other lower lifeforms. PUNISHMENT AND CRIME...

Buy this DVD (September 18, 1996, CBS) Written and directed by David Chase Russian gangsters and the return of Megan! Katherine Harrold returns as Megan Dougherty, the blind therapist Jim had a major thing with. (See "Black Mirror" and "Love is the Word") Also a rather vicious (for Rockford) torture scene. (currently unavailable--not aired as of this date) NOVELIZATIONS The Rockford Files: The Unfortunate Replacement (1975, by Michael Jahn) Novelisation of the pilot episode. The Rockford Files: The Deadliest Game (1976, by Michael Jahn) Novelisation of "The Kirkoff Case" and "This Case is Closed". NOVELS Devil On My Doorstep (1998, by Stuart Kaminsky ). . Buy this book NON-FICTION The Rockford Phile: The Unofficial Casebook of The Rockford Files (1991, by David Martindale). Buy this book A real fan's book, done by a real fan. This is Jim Rockford... (1995; by Ed Robertson)..

Buy this book Features a collection of answering machine messages left on Rockford's machine, and much much more about what many consider the genre's best show. Thirty Years of The Rockford Files (2005; by Ed Robertson). Buy this book A new edition of Robertson's already-definitive Rockford book, " This is Jim Rockford... ", with a lot more information. The book, subtitled "An inside look at America's greatest detective series," now runs close to 500 pages, more than twice as long as the previous edition. The Garner Files (2011; by James Garner & Jon Winokur) . Buy this book .. Kindle it! For a generation, James Garner's Jim Rockford has been THE TV private eye: tough, shrewd, principled and ready to stand up when it's the right thing to do. Much like Garner himself. An illuminating autobiography, and oh the stories he tells. Like Garner says, "Something funny happens as you get older -- you don't hold back so much." FOR (AND BY) ROCKFORDPHILES Pontiac Firebird Hot Wheels . Buy it! Man, if they'd had this when I was a kid...

Mattel sure took its time, but this die cast blast of pure nostalgia is better late than never. Part of their 2012-13 Retro Series, aimed specifically at collectors. Or very cool eight year olds. The Rockford Files Vanity License Plate . Buy it! Perfect for slapping on your Gold Pontiac Firebird Esprit, this metal-stamped prop boasts Jimbo's actual California plate number, 853 OKG. A struggling writer and single dad, inspired by The Rockford Files, decides to get a P.I. license, in this short novel. It's even dedicated to Garner. "Gold Firebird" (2006, Post Road #12) by Peter Rock . Buy the book A eerie little short story by acclaimed novelist Peter Rock about a woman in a gold Firebird (just like Jimbo drove) on a road trip through the desert, a TV riding shotgun, hooked up to a VCR playing VHS tapes of The Rockford Files and a lonely gas station attendant. The story can be found in Rock's 2007 collection, The Unsettling.

RELATED LINKS James Garner in 'Rockford Files': 7 reasons we loved him - TODAY.com Today.com Yeah, look, Jimmy: 7 reasons we loved James Garner in 'The Rockford Files' 2014-07-21T19:20:00.000Z comment () James Garner, who was found dead over the weekend at age 86, was no one-trick pony. You might've remembered him from "Maverick," or his Oscar-nominated "Murphy's Romance," or his Polaroid commercials with Mariette Hartley. But for many of us, Garner will forever be associated with one role: Jim Rockford on "The Rockford Files." Every episode opened with someone leaving an answering-machine message for Rockford, and the messages, perfectly delivered little comedy rim shots, always gave us a glance into why we love the hapless PI so much.

There hasn't been a character like Jim Rockford since the show went off the air in 1980, and here's why: He was barely making it Rockford was an ex-con (falsely convicted!) who turned private investigator, and famously charged "$200 a day, plus expenses." But he lived in a trailer on the beach in Malibu, and seemed to be barely one step ahead of the debt collectors. We could relate. Relevant answering-machine message: "It's Norma at the market. It bounced. You want me to tear it up, send it back, or put it with the others?" Did we mention he lived in a trailer? Rockford's trailer looks salt-stained and rusty on the outside, but inside, it was home (and didn't look as bad as the exterior suggested it would.) It was where he cooked, played cards, tackled cases, occasionally hid out, and tried to keep dad Rocky and pal Angel under control. The setting was perfect — outside his door rolled the sparkling waves and warm sands of Malibu, but inside, chaos usually reigned. Relevant answering-machine message: "This is Mrs. Owens with the Association For A Better Malibu.

Thanks for your contributions. We've made real strides, but it would help dear, if you could move your trailer." We loved his car Rockford's car was a gleaming gold Pontiac Firebird, and he drove it like he stole it. The term "pulling a Rockford" is still used, meaning to spin your speeding car 180 degrees, sometimes by yanking the emergency brake. Relevant answering-machine message: "Hi, Jim, it's Jamie at the police impound. They picked up your car again. Lately, they've been driving it more than you have." He was a star with the ladies Who wouldn't want to date handsome Jim, with his rugged looks and sweet-talking ways? But don't expect a lifelong relationship. Rockford was too busy pulling Rockfords and staying out of the way of criminals to make a love match. We like to imagine he ended up with lawyer and sometimes lover Beth Davenport (Gretchen Corbett), but Jim's true love was his work. Relevant answering-machine message: "Hey, Jim, it's me. Susan Ellis from the laundromat. You said you were going to call and it's been two weeks.

What's wrong, you lose my number?" He loved his family Rockford's dad, Rocky, played by Noah Beery Jr., was a semi-retired truck driver, and had plenty of time to stick his nose into "Sonny's" cases. Whether he was bugging Jim to help him find the "clear" button on a calculator or relaying a lengthy nonsensical story from his trucker days, Rocky may have been the best character on a show full of them. Relevant answering-machine message: "Sonny, this is Dad. Never mind giving that talk on your occupation to the Gray Power Club. Hap Dudley's son is a doctor and everybody'd sorta ... well, rather hear from him, but thanks." He was loyal to his friends Yeah, look Jimmy, it's Angel. Evelyn "Angel" Martin (Stuart Margolin) was Rockford's ex-cellmate and current pal, who'd never given up the con-man hustle. Half the time Rockford was barely hanging on to both life and his latest case, but the minute he let Angel in to either, things would go all over the cliff. But Margolin's Angel was so wonderfully entertaining that you kind of understood why Jimmy kept him around.

Kind of. Relevant answering-machine message: "Jimmy, Angel. Here's a tip, but his handwriting's bad. Third Son in the fifth race at Bel Meadows. Wait a minute, could be Fifth Son in the third. Wait, this might be next week's race." He knew his stuff Rockford wasn't the most elegant PI in the biz (that'd be Lance White, the rival detective played by Tom Selleck), but doggone it, he was loyal. If you could get him to take your case, he was going to see it through, even if he had to take a beatdown in the process. Relevant answering-machine message: "Mr. Rockford, Miss Collins from the Bureau of Licenses. We got your renewal before the extended deadline, but not your check. I'm sorry, but at midnight you're no longer licensed as an investigator."

Question: Every episode of which TV detective series was introduced with a message on an answering machine?
Answer: ROCKFORD FILES